Three Indian sailors are dead after a U.S. military strike on a commercial oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman. India's shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed Thursday that the three men, initially reported missing, had been killed and their bodies identified.
The deceased were named as Aditya Sharma, Shivanand Chaurasiya, and Patnala Suresh. The sailors were aboard the Palau-flagged M/T Settebello when U.S. Central Command fired on the vessel's engine room. According to CBS News, CENTCOM said the crew had "repeatedly failed to comply with directions from American forces" enforcing a naval blockade of Iran's ports and associated vessels.
Chaurasiya's father, Rami, was shown on India's ANI news agency breaking down in tears as he described learning of his son's death. Sharma's grandfather told the Press Trust of India: "We want to know the full truth of what happened. Our hearts are shattered."
The Indian Express reported that Aditya had told his father the ship received two warnings from the U.S. Navy in the two weeks before the strike.
India's External Affairs Ministry condemned the attacks Wednesday, saying "the continuing incidents of attacks on shipping in the region are deeply worrisome." The ministry added: "The targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region must end."
On Thursday, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India had summoned a senior U.S. diplomat to register a "strong protest" and that India expected the U.S. to "take due note."
The Settebello was not the only vessel hit this week. On Thursday, CENTCOM said it had disabled the Guinea-Bissau-flagged M/T Jalveer for "attempting to transport Iranian oil," firing two Hellfire missiles into the ship's engine room "after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with directions." On Monday, CENTCOM said it had disabled the Palau-flagged M/T Marivex, which is under U.S. sanctions, because it was "attempting to sail to an Iranian port."
A video sent to CBS News by a crew member aboard the Marivex appeared to show smoke rising from the vessel, with another ship visible nearby.
At least nine ships have been disabled for not complying with U.S. forces since the naval blockade on Iran began on April 13, according to CENTCOM. On Wednesday, President Trump said the blockade was serving its intended purpose of pressuring the Iranian regime.
